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Hockey

It's water under the bridge to Matt Kennedy, who has turned his attention to resuming his playing career.

"The league made a decision and that's no concern of mine," said the overage Barrie Colts forward, reacting to the 20-game suspension the Ontario Hockey League slapped Windsor Spitfires forward Zack Kassian with Thursday afternoon.

Kassian, 19, delivered an open-ice hit on Kennedy in the second period of a game in Windsor last Thursday.

Kennedy didn't have control of the puck when he was hit. The puck was in the air, and Kennedy was looking for it. He suffered a concussion -- the fifth of his junior career -- and required three stitches to close a cut on his right cheek and staples to close a wound in the back of his head.

Kassian was assessed a five-minute major for charging -- which comes with an automatic game misconduct -- and was suspended indefinitely the next day.

Kennedy's hockey future remains up in the air, but he's eying a return.

"I past my first concussion test (Thursday) and I'm feeling good," the Carolina Hurricanes draft pick said prior to the start of his team's game against the Kingston Frontenacs.

"I'm just excited to get healthy again and get back on the ice. I'm excited to get back out there and help the team," the Horseshoe Valley native added.

According to the league, Kassian, a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres, has already served two games of his suspension and is eligible to return to Windsor's lineup in time for his team's final four regular-season games.

League commissioner David Branch released a statement Thursday, saying that, "while the League his persuaded that player Zack Kassian did not leave his feet prior to contact with the Barrie player, it is of the position of the League that (Kassian) checked the unsuspecting Barrie player while such player was in a vulnerable position without having been in the possession of the puck."

Barrie head coach Marty Williamson was "surprised" and thought the suspension was too lenient. Earlier this season, former Erie Otters forward Michael Liambas was banned for life following a highly publicized hit on Kitchener Rangers rookie defenceman Ben Fanelli.

"I thought Zack got a break," said Williamson, adding he felt Kassian should have been suspended for the remainder of the season at the very least.

"Zack's a lucky man. He should feel very fortunate. He's going to play hockey again this year."